William Robinson ('75) Confirmed to RI Supreme Court

PROVIDENCE - After a long wait, lawyer William P. Robinson's confirmation to
the Rhode Island Supreme Court came yesterday in two swift, unanimous votes
by the General Assembly.

The court's newest member pledged to serve the state with humility and an open
mind, and to "attempt to be fair each and every day."
Supreme Court Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg declared that Robinson is "committed
to the administration of justice." She also shared a letter of support
from Chief Justice Frank Williams, who had urged the General Assembly to confirm
Robinson.

Governor Carcieri nominated Robinson two months ago to succeed Justice Robert
G. Flanders Jr., who is leaving the court next month. The Assembly has the responsibility
to "advise and consent" in the appointment of a justice, and lawmakers
waited until the 60-day limit for Robinson's confirmation was within hours of
expiring.

"It's been a long sixty days, but I signed on to the process and I have
no complaints," Robinson, 64, said in an interview.

Robinson, an East Providence native, lives in East Greenwich. He has spent his
27-year legal career at the Edwards & Angell law firm. He is a former member
of the East Greenwich School Committee and the Rhode Island Board of Governors
for Higher Education.
Carcieri has called Robinson an expert in First Amendment and constitutional
law.

Robinson is one of the lawyers who has represented Channel 10 reporter Jim Taricani
on a contempt finding. Tarcani refused to name the source who gave him an undercover
video of Frank Corrente, an aide to former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci,
apparently taking a bribe from an informant. That case has been appealed to
the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Moments before the House of Representatives began its session yesterday, Robinson
confessed to being "a little bit" nervous.
"I'm a lawyer, and I'm used to being the one asking the questions,"
he said.

The House voted 65-0 to approve Robinson's nomination to the five-member state
Supreme Court, and then applauded him.On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee
had unanimously backed Robinson's nomination after a hearing.

In brief remarks to the House yesterday, Robinson said he was "humbled"
and "incredibly grateful."

Robinson then made the short walk through the State House's marble halls to
testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. There, he was challenged by Sen.
Rhoda E. Perry, D-Providence, who noted comments Robinson had made in the newspaper
about the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe. v. Wade abortion decision, and the decision
last year of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that legalized same-sex
marriages in Massachusetts.

Robinson had told The Providence Journal that, "from the point of view
of jurisprudence," the dissenting opinions in both cases "reflected
better legal interpretations of the issues before the courts."

Perry questioned whether Robinson would be "predisposed" to one point
of view if an issue of abortion or gay marriage came up before the Rhode Island
Supreme Court.

Certainly not, Robinson said. "I will address, view, value, weigh, any
argument that comes before me," he said. "I have no agenda. . . .
The law is the law."

He said that when asked by the newspaper about the two well-known decisions,
he offered an answer on points of law. "As a matter of due process,"
he said, "the dissent had the better argument." He told Perry, "I
appreciate the question, frankly, because it gives me a chance to explain my
position."

Testimony from Robinson's supporters revealed that he is a Red Sox fan, and
he's good at Jeopardy. Friends also praised his intelligence, work ethic and
clear thinking.

Joseph V. Cavanagh Jr. testified that Robinson would be "a natural"
and "a perfect match" for the state Supreme Court. "He is fiercely
concerned about trying to do the right thing," said Cavanagh, a Providence
lawyer whose clients include The Journal.

The Judiciary Committee voted unanimously yesterday to recommend Robinson to
the full Senate. Later, the Senate confirmed Robinson, by a 30-0 vote.

Sen. Michael J. Damiani, D-East Providence, said he had never received more
constituent calls in support of any other judicial nominee.

Robinson earned his law degree from Boston College in 1975. He speaks Spanish,
French, German, Latin, Greek and some Catalan, a Spanish dialect.

Robinson and his wife, Marlene, have three children: Jeffrey, Kevin and Courtney.